Help Please - Very Confused (H/K head unit problem)

[R99]

Hi folks.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this problem, but here goes.

I have the Harmon/Kardon system in my car, and the standard head unit which comes with the system.

Recently I have noticed that randomly when I am listening to a CD the head unit will change to the radio and start playing a radio station!!

Meanwhile the display still says 'track 1' (or whatever track I'm listening to) even if you press the skip button to select a new track, it just changes the display to say 'track 3' and the radio carries on playing. Even if you press the mode button to try and revert back to CD mode again, the radio carries on playing.

I have found the only two solutions are to either turn it off OR to press one of the 6 number buttons as if you were to select another radio station, after doing so you can then use the mode button to return to the CD.

This is nothing to do with the 'traffic' or 'news' features as I have both of those turned off.

I'm very confused, its only started happening in the last couple of days. The car is still under the manufactures warranty, does that cover audio equipt? Or is there a simple fix.

Many thanks,
James.

[James]

maybe something wrong with the CD like a corrupted file?

[R99]

Possibility, but its happened when I've played both CDR's and CD's bought from shops.

[DaFlake]

Nope, the problem is that you have traffic or news turned on and your radio is receiving the signal.

The radio is designed to switch to the station setting when the signal for news or traffic is received.

I'm am not sure what radio you have as there are a couple of versions, but typically there is a function called "TP" and "RDS" on the display. The buttons below it will turn the functions off and on. There are actually four functions there and if you hold one of the buttons down, the other "News" will appear with either a "off" or "on". Make sure they are off and you won't be bothered again.

[jimmy_racoon]

You can always learn something...

I had this happening when my IPOD was playing.

I just figured it hit a bump and switched to radio.

Nice to finally program the HK properly to eliminate this issue.

thanks!

[DaFlake]

Comes in handy here in Germany. They have set times when they do traffic or if there is an unexpected jam. They simply send out the signal and your radio cuts over to the report so you get the latest update. Very nice to have on if you are traveling.

[R99]

I have 'news' and 'traffic' turned off. Typically the radio station which the head unit randomly plays is radio 1. When traffic was turned on it would switch to something like 'bbc radio lancashire' or the like. When it did this it would display the name of the radio station on the display. BUT when it does it now, the CD track listing remains on the little screen.

As you can tell I'm still a little confused.

[R99]

Anyone able to shed anymore light on this issue?

Or are we of the opinion that its incorectly programmed traffic settings, seems like a logical explanation, despite the menu telling me they are turned off?

Thanks,
James.

[DaFlake]

Sounds like you have a faulty HU. FYI, there is no difference between the stock HU and HK HU, so if you are out of warrenty you are not searching for anything special. Likewise, Mikey (NewMINIStuff.com) sells an HK enabler that will allow you to use some after market HU's in the car.

[R99]

Car is an 06 so luckily plenty of warranty left yet. I'm back at uni now for two weeks, but I'll take the car in once I'm back.

I'll have one last attempt at playing around with the settings though just to make sure, but I'm pretty much 100% that traffic and news are turned off.

Thanks DaFlake.

James.